The unfortunate are all our problems, al Assad replied. The abbot would speak with you of this one.

The abbot opened with a similar remark in response to a similar statement. He quoted some scripture. Mustaf countered with the quote al Assad had used earlier. The abbot kept his temper with difficulty.

Hes not consecrated.

Consecrate him. Thats your job.

We cant do that till he recovers his faculties.

Hes nothing to me. And youre even less.

There were hard feelings. It had been but two days since Mustaf had petitioned the abbot for permission to draw water from the Shrines spring. The abbot had denied him.

Al Assad, cunningly, had brought the chieftain up by way of the Shrines gardens, where lush flowerbeds in careful arrangements glorified God. Mustaf was in no mood to be charitable.

The abbot was in the jaws of a merciless trap. The laws of good works were the high laws of the Shrine. He dared not abrogate them before his brothers. Not if he wished to retain his post. But neither was he ready to allow this boy to mutter his heretical insanities where they could upset the thinking of his charges.

My friend, we had hard words over a matter we discussed recently. Perhaps I reached my decision a bit hastily.

Mustaf smiled a predatory smile. Perhaps.

Two score barrels of water? the abbot suggested.

Mustaf started toward the doorway.

Al Assad shook his head sadly. They were going to dicker like merchants while a boy lay dying. He departed in disgust, taking himself to his cell.

Within the hour he surrendered to the embrace of the Dark Lady.

Micah wakened suddenly, rational, intuiting that a long time had passed. His last clear memory was of walking beside his father as their caravan began the last league to El Aquila. Shouts...a blow...pain...reminiscences of madness. There had been an ambush. Where was he now? Why wasnt he dead? An angel...There had been an angel.

Snatches returned. He had been returned to life, to become a missionary to the Chosen. A disciple.

He rose from his pallet. His legs betrayed him immediately. He lay panting for several minutes before finding the strength to crawl to a flapway.

The el Habib had confined him to a tent. They had quarantined him. His words had made Mustaf tremble. The chieftain could sense the blood and pain beyond such mad perspectives.

Micah yanked the flap.

The afternoon sun slapped his face. He threw an arm across his eyes and cried out. That devil orb was trying to murder him again.

You idiot! a voice snarled as someone pushed him back inside. You want to blind yourself?

The hands that guided him to his pallet became tender. The afterimages faded. He discovered his companion to be a girl.

She was about his own age. She wore no veil.

He shrank away. What was this? Some temptation of the Evil One? Her father would kill him....